Parliamentary Team to Travel to Libya to Follow up Imam Sadr's Fate

Service : Politic

TEHRAN, Aug 24 (ICANA) – An Iranian lawmaker says a delegation from the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of the Majlis will travel to Libya to follow up the fate of the missing Imam Moussa Sadr.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011 9:24:11 PM

With the imminent fall of the Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi imminent, Javad Karimi Qoddousi said on Wednesday that it was imperative to establish contacts with the Libyan revolutionaries who must be aware of possible martyrdom of Imam Sadr or his being alive.

Imam Sadr, an Iranian-born Shia cleric vanished without a trace in Libya in 1978. In August 1978, Imam Sadr departed for Libya with two companions to meet officials of Gaddafi government. They were never heard from again, and many believe they met with foul play at the hands of Gaddafi.

In August 2008, Lebanon issued an arrest warrant for Gaddafi and 11 other Libyan officials, charging them with kidnapping Sadr. Gaddafi was also indicted for “inciting the abduction” of the senior cleric.

Libya has denied responsibility, claiming that Sadr and his companions left Libya for Italy in 1978. However, many believe that Sadr is still alive and is being held in a secret jail in Libya.

Qoddousi who chairs a parliamentary committee to follow up Imam Sadr's fate, told ICANA that the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs must increase its diplomatic follow up on the case.

Considering that the Lebanese Hezbollah and the Iraqi Supreme Assembly were influential in clarifying the fate of Imam Moussa Sadr, the MP said the Majlis was waiting for the arrangements to be taken to dispatch a delegation to Libya as soon as possible.

Rapporteur of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of the Majlis, Kazem Jalali has said that the current government in Libya is responsible for the safety of Imam Moussa Sadr.

Jalali said that according to evidences, Imam Sadr was still alive and kept by the Gaddafi government as a captive. He said Colonel Gaddafi had lied many times to the international community none of which is acceptable.

The family of Imam Sadr issued a statement on Monday, calling for efforts to be made to help obtain his release from the Libyan prison.

Lebanese Hezbollah has also said Libya is first and foremost responsible for Sadr’s disappearance.

"We are certain that Libya’s Interim National Transitional Council will spare no effort to obtain the release of the imam and his two companions," said the statement issued by Sadr family.

"We call on international forums, the United Nations, the affiliated organizations, and particularly Interpol to enforce arrest warrants issued by the Lebanese judiciary for Gaddafi and his accomplices.

"We call on non-governmental and state-run human rights organizations and groups to take measures necessary to protect the lives of the imam and his two companions.

"The Lebanese government should take prompt and effective diplomatic, security, and judicial measures to obtain the release of the imam and his two companions and to arrest Gaddafi and his accomplices."

Imam Sadr’s family also called on the Lebanese media and Muslim and Arab countries to make efforts to help secure the release of the imam and his companions.

They also asked the Libyan opposition and those who have any news about al-Sadr to inform them.